About 90% of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) develop severe bone disease, known as myeloma bone disease (MBD). This occurs due to the ability of MM cells to disrupt bone homeostasis, leading to excessive bone resorption. Some current treatments are effective for treating MBD, but they are associated with undesired adverse events.
Scientists at Osaka University have discovered that intercellular communication via extracellular vesicles from osteoblasts, cells that are specialized for laying down new bone, is a key factor for the transition from bone formation to resorption via a microRNA (miRNA)-mediated mechanism.
